Effect of a health-risk reduction training program on the knowledge and safe waste-handling practices among Waste-pickers in dumpsites in Ogun State, Nigeria

Objective: This study assessed the effect of a health-risk reduction training program on waste-pickers waste-handling practices in dumpsites in Ogun State, Nigeria. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 60 waste-pickers recruited by multistage sampling technique divided into intervention and control group. There was a baseline assessment of waste-handling practices in both intervention and control groups using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Thereafter, health-risk reduction training was given using lectures, and demonstrations. Three months after the intervention, another assessment of the same waste-pickers was conducted with the same instrument. Waste-handling practices and knowledge responses were measured on a 54-point rating scale and 17-point rating scale respectively. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23 to generate descriptive and inferential. Results: At baseline, the waste-pickers in the control group had a mean waste-handling score of 17.80±6.89 while the experimental group had a mean of (17.97±5.47). After the training program, there was a statistically significant increase in the mean waste-handling score of the experimental group (47.30±3.28; p= 0.000) while there was no increase in the mean waste-handling score of the control group (17.80±6.89). This significant increase in the mean waste-handling score of the experimental group (53.83±0.38; p=0.000) was also observed at 3 month follow-up period. Conclusion/Recommendation: The health-risk reduction training was effective in improving the waste-handling practices of waste-pickers. It is recommended that waste-pickers should be trained on proper waste-handling by the government.

Effect of Health Risk Reduction Intervention Training Program on Waste Pickers’ Knowledge and Waste Handling Practices in Dump Sites in Ogun State, Nigeria

Objective: This study assessed the effect of health risk reduction training program on waste pickers’ waste handling practices in dump sites in Ogun State, Nigeria. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 60 waste pickers recruited by multistage sampling technique divided into intervention and control groups. There was a baseline assessment of waste handling practices in both the intervention and control groups using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Thereafter, health risk reduction training was given via lectures and demonstrations. Three months after the intervention, another assessment of the same waste pickers was conducted with the same instrument. Waste handling practices and knowledge responses were measured on a 54-point rating scale and a 17-point rating scale respectively. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23 to generate descriptive and inferential results. Results: At the baseline, the waste pickers in the control group had a mean waste handling score of 17.80±6.89 while the experimental group had a mean score of 17.97±5.47. After the training program, there was a statistically significant increase in the mean waste handling score of the experimental group (47.30±3.28; p = 0.000) while there was no increase in the mean waste handling score of the control group (17.80±6.89). This significant increase in the mean waste handling score of the experimental group (53.83±0.38; p = 0.000) was also observed in a 3 month follow-up period. Conclusion/Recommendation: The health risk reduction training was effective in improving the waste handling practices of waste pickers. It is recommended that waste pickers should be trained on proper waste handling by the government.

Methodological approaches to assessment of the decline for health risk reduction from mosquito bites due to the application of repellents and insecticides

Introduction. The use of repellents and insecticides is the most important method of protection against mosquitoes. In the scientific literature, there is practically no information about the risk from mosquito bitesl to human health due to the non-use of these funds. The information on the prevalence, infection of mosquito-carriers of infectious agents was studied; biological risks from non-use of repellents and insecticides. The aim of the study is to develop methodological approaches to assessing the reduction of health risk from mosquito bites due to the use of repellent and insecticidal agents. Materials and methods. The methods of studying relevant scientific literature, analysis of statistical reporting data, the main stages of the methodology for assessing health risks were used. Results. The proposed methodological approaches have been tested in various scenarios for the use of repellents and insecticides in comparison with the averted risks associated with the development of infectious diseases carried by mosquitoes. Conclusion. For the implementation of methodological approaches, scenarios and parameters of the development of the situation with the use of repellents and insecticides or their non-use are proposed. Indicators of individual, population and prevented health risks were calculated, considering the severity of harm to health. The personal health risk of West Nile fever (WNF) and dirofilariasis in non-endemic areas without application repellents and insecticides is assessed as acceptable - 1.2•10-8 and 1.7•10-5, respectively. At the territory with constantly recorded WNV incidence, the application of repellents or insecticides diminished the population risk of contracting fever by ten times. The averted health risk is 0.297 cases per 2.8 million population. When using repellents or insecticides, the population risk of dirofilariasis is significantly reduced. The averted health risk is 8.8 cases per population of 579 103 people.

Impact of Physician Referral to Health Coaching on Patient Engagement and Health Risks: An Observational Study of UPMC’s Prescription for Wellness

Purpose: Evaluate impact of physician referral to health coaching on patient engagement and health risk reduction. Design: Four-year retrospective, observational cohort study with propensity-matched pair comparisons. Setting: Integrated delivery and finance system in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sample: 10 457 adult insured members referred to health coaching by their physician; 37 864 other members identified for health coaching through insurer-initiated outreach. Intervention: Practice-based, technology-supported workflow and process for physician prescribing of health coaching during regular office visit, with follow-up on patient’s progress and implementation supports. Measures: Patient engagement based on completion of pre-enrollment assessment, formal enrollment in health coaching, completion of required sessions, health risk levels, and number of health risks pre- and post-health coaching referral. Analysis: Difference-in-difference analysis to assess change in health risk levels and number of health risks pre- and post-health coaching and probability weighting to control for potential confounding between groups. Results: Members referred by a physician were significantly more likely to enroll in a health coaching program (21.0% vs 6.0%, P < .001) and complete the program requirements (8.5% vs 2.7%, P < .001) than when referred by insurer-initiated outreach; significant within group improvement in health risk levels from baseline ( P < .001) was observed for both the groups. Conclusions: Patients are significantly more likely to engage in health coaching when a referral is made by a physician; engagement in health coaching significantly improves health risk levels.